Master and Commander Sequel, Other Casting News

The casting news never stops! Here are some of the big announcements of the week:

In a rather surprise announcement, there are rumors that there’s going to be a sequel to Master and Commander, the excellent adventure-drama that starred Russell Crowe. While good, the movie didn’t make a ton of money if memory serves me right. Regardless, talks are that Crowe may reprise his role as Captain Jack Aubrey in The Reverse of the Medal. Of course, all of these developments are in rumor stages at this point.

Speaking of rumors, here’s a pretty big one: Robert DeNiro may play a senator in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete, based on the faux movie trailer that played during Grindhouse. Michelle Rodriguez and Jonah Hill are also set to star.

Willem Dafoe has found new work in John Carter of Mars, about a Civil War soldier who is transported to Mars in the middle of an alien war. That sucks.

At the other end of the looks department, we have Kate Bosworth – as well as Alexander Skarsgard – signing on to play opposite James Marsden in Straw Dogs, a remake that sounds like it’s about a love triangle gone sour.

Stephen Chow, who was once signed on to direct The Green Hornet and play the title’s character loyal sidekick Kato, how bowed out of the production completely, allegedly due to scheduling conflicts. Columbia Pictures is now looking for a new sidekick for Seth Rogen, the most unlikeliest of superheroes.

A new comedy called Avon Man, about a laid off auto worker who enlists his buddies to sell Avon products, will star Hugh Jackman. Frankly, this is a clever idea, and I’d buy that Jackman could sell a lot of makeup to women.

In good or bad news depending on how you look at it, Kevin Williamson is working on a script for Scream 4. David Arquette and Courtney Cox-Arquette have signed on to star, but the success of this product still hinges on the return of Wes Craven and, even more importantly, Neve Campbell.

Pierce Brosnan, Patricia Clarkson and Julianne Moore will all star in the indie drama The Hunter, a period piece, while the completely appropriate Russell Brand will voice The Easter Bunny in a live-action/CGI film called I Hop. Oh, and Renee Zellweger will reprise her role as the title character in a new Bridget Jones sequel. Wasn’t the second one bad enough?

In less exciting news, Xavier Samuel will play the newborn vampire villain Riley in The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse; Christine Baranski will play Jennifer Aniston’s mom in The Bounty (also known as Bounty Hunter).

For those wondering who’s going to play Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, you’ll have to wait a little longer; producer Peter Jackson said that they’re still working on the script, and as such casting announcements will not be coming during Comic-Con as originally expected.